I refer to the letter Forget Obama, why don't you all start speaking BM?

We are what we are! Malaysians!

I suppose the usefulness of comparisons and analogies only goes as far as how well one uses them and in what way. There are things we can learn in looking at America, and then there are analogies like the writer’s which seem to have lost the plot somewhat from ill thought-out comparisons.

I ask the writer, what is he/she trying to prove by asking non-Malay Malaysians to 'accept Malaysia with your heart and soul?' As though by simply not speaking 'Malay' means that one does not love this country?

I am proud to be Malaysian because of fellow Malaysians who work hard to create a more inclusive country for all its citizens, not one who makes simplistic conclusions to offend fellow Malaysians. Also, please stop harping about the Chinese owning a sizable chunk of economy, as though all Chinese are rich and a threat to everyone else.

Such kind of racial stereotyping is useful only to encourage others to spew forth other negative racial stereotypes. Don't forget that most Chinese and non-Malays do work hard for an honest, humble living and pay taxes the benefits of which you enjoy too. Similarly, many Malays are middle-class or higher and still enjoy certain economic privileges. This talk along racial lines is really old and becoming irrelevant. Let's move on.

The writer says that 'A nation's leader must also embody the national identity', and cites Obama's 'American-ness'. So what is Malaysia's national identity? The writer claims that Obama likely watches Hollywood movies and reads lots of English titles which makes him 'American'. Does that mean Malaysians who are truly Malaysians will watch mostly Malaysian movies and read Malaysian books? If so, would the writer conclude that all our prime ministers are more American than they are Malaysian?

In Thailand, the PM was ethnically a Chinese. Was there a concern that he had 'Thai blood'? There are many 'non-Malay Malaysians' who speak Malay eloquently, does that mean they can be PM? Oh wait, the writer implies that he should be Muslim, and perhaps with some Malay blood too. That excludes a sizable chunk of our population.

The reality is that the American culture and identity is a lot more pervasive in America and beyond. The reality also is that Malaysia is not a homogenous a society like Indonesia, China, or Thailand. We are what we are, so what is this preoccupation with imposing on each other what our identities should be?

The writer is merely taking in the kind of ‘identity’ perpetuated by the state and continues to use because it likely because it fits his/her purpose. This merely shows that one has failed to understand the complexity that makes up Malaysia. One only needs to consider this preoccupation in relation to our race-based political landscape.

It is insulting and ignorant for the writer to say: 'To our non-Malay friends who are losing sleep over the suspicion that they will never be embraced as true Malaysians and subsequently never be able to run for the PM-ship, I suggest you start with accepting Malaysia with your heart and soul.'

The writer seems to think that non-Malays simply love to distinguish themselves from the Malaysian majority. I believe such an erroneous belief highlights such a lack of understanding of many non-Malays. If anything, we are forced to distinguished ourselves according to race and religion. My friend who is a fourth-generation half-Burmese and Chinese is forced to take on the Chinese race simply because it fits into racial identities perpetuated by the state.

There's a bloody sound reason too why many do not converse well or much in Bahasa Melayu or take on the 'Malay identity'. One only needs to honestly look into our history to understand how Malaysia started politically. Everything is divided along racial lines along with that the use of languages. English is also very useful as an international language and we do not deny the influence of the mainstream media.

Despite unfavourable conditions that do not make Bahasa Malaysia attractive to non-Malay Malaysians, I and many of my fellow Malaysians do make the effort to use it simply because, yes, it is our national language and it is a language most common to all. It is an effort to engage as Malaysians, even though most grew up naturally not with Malay as the mother tongue. The least people like the writer can do is to put in the effort to understand the concerns of other Malaysians.

In terms of embracing ideals, we have to seek a common ground of fairness and justice and not impose on how one should 'look' like, or justify a perceived unjust act. Anything which tells people that they are being treated less than another, will in turn be used as justification for other unjust acts. This, of course, will keep the wheels turning for politicians who spend most energy 'protecting their own kind' while our country goes down the drain.

The writer claims 'There's a bloody sound reason why Tanah Melayu is named such!' May I remind the writer that this is Malaysia and Bahasa Malaysia is officially our national language. That means it belongs to me as well even though I may not fit into his/her description of what being Malaysian means.

Instead of insulting non-Malays, it is better to start by understanding why our national language is not used much, rather than blame non-Malays for not using it more.

Suggesting that they do not love their country when some from the majority population are bent on making non-Malays feel un-welcome in their own country simply because their identities don't fit the ‘identity’ imposed, reflects an unthinking Malaysian. These kind of views are the ones which continue to divide us further.